MOBILE UNIT FOR RAIL CLIP APPLICATION

Abstract: The invention relates to a mobile unit (1) which is adapted for movement along two parallel, or at least generally parallel rails (2, 2') and which is provided with first means (10) for fastening each of the sleepers (3) to bottom rail-flanges with the aid of two mutually opposing U-shaped resilient devices. The unit also includes second means (20) operative in gripping a sleeper (3) located beneath the unit and positioned loosely beneath the rails (2, 2') and lifting the sleeper into abutment with, or into near abutment with the bottom flanges. Third means (30) are provided for aligning the lifted sleeper (3) to a position relative to the two rails. Fourth means (40) are provided for pressing the sleeper into said adapted position and/or holding the sleeper in said adapted position when necessary, while inserting respective resilient devices (8) into respective fastening devices (4) with the aid of the first means (10).

Description: MOBILEUNIT FOR RAIL CLIP APPLICATION ************************************ TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a mobile unit, and then more particularly, but not exclusively, to a mobile unit of the kind which is adapted for movement along two parallel, or at least generally parallel, railroad rails which at least partially rest loosely on a plurality of mutually spaced sleeper means which are spaced at an approximate distance apart and which extend transversely to the rails, and the length of which exceeds the distance between the rails. A mobile unit of this kind is normally provided with wheels which enable the unit to roll along the mutually parallel rails. The present invention relates more particularly to the kind of mobile units that include first means for fastening each of the sleepers to the bottom flanges of said two rails with the aid of resilient devices. The sleepers may conveniently comprise concrete-reinforced basic body structures having four fastener devices cast or likewise embedded in the upper surfaces thereof. The bottom surface of the sleepers is broader than the upper surface, such that the side surfaces diverge downwardly. The resilient or spring devices will conveniently have the form of two mutually opposing U-shaped part-devices of which one leg of each part-device joins on the end of one leg of the other part-device, and include a first outer leg which is adapted for coaction with a hole provided in a fastener device fixed to the sleeper, and further include a second outer leg which is adapted to bear with a vertically acting spring force against the bottom flange of a respective rail, or preferably against an elastic insert, such as to press the flange against the sleeper. More specifically, the legs of one U-shaped part-device are located in a first plane, while the U-shaped second part- device is positioned in another plane which extends at an angle of 45° to said first plane, but with the outer parts of the leg parts angled to said first plane. The distance between the legs of the second part-device is twice the distance between the legs of the first part-device, with the outer legs facing in opposite directions and being located close to one another. The mobile unit also includes second means which function to firmly grip a sleeper positioned loosely beneath the unit and beneath the rails and lift the sleeper into abutment with, or into near abutment with, the underside of the bottom flanges, or an elastic insert placed therebetween. By elastic insert is meant an insert which has a degree of elasticity or softness that greatly exceeds the elasticity of steel. The inserts may be made of hard rubber, hard plastic or like material. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Several different embodiments of mobile units of principly the same kind as that described above are known to the art. For instance. Finish Published Specification 89 292 teaches an arrangement and a method for positioning springs (J) or resilient devices in the fastener devices of the sleepers or track beams, so as to secure railroad rails (R) to track beams or sleepers (P) in place against a sole plate (E) mounted on respective beams, by virtue of the spring (J) pressing the rail (R) against the sole plate (E) when the spring is brought into position. According to this publication, it shall be possible to feed each of the springs (J) from a spring store to a separate device (15) which is able to push a spring (G) into a spring channel or groove (T) on the sole plate (E). However, the springs and associated sleeper-related fastening devices have a form and function which deviate from the form and function applicable to the present invention. With regard to the features of the present invention which enable a loosely positioned sleeper extending transversely of the rails to be adjusted prior to being fastened to the rails with the aid of said resilient or spring devices, reference can be made to the contents of U.K. Patent Publication GB-A 2,159,560, which illustrates and describes (third) means in the form of a device which is able to adjust the positions of railroad sleepers placed loosely beneath the railroad rails and extending transversely thereto. In this case, there is used a mobile unit having wheels which can coact with the rails. This known mobile unit does not only carry the requisite adjusting means, but also requires the provision of counter- pressure means which grip the rail. Hydraulically operated piston-cylinder devices can be attached to the rails and are able to press or pull a sleeper to a given position in which the sleeper is fastened to the fastening devices. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEMS When considering the state of the prior art as described above, it will be seen that in the case of a mobile unit of the kind described in the introduction, a technical problem resides in the use of a completely different third means or a third means of much simpler construction, so as to be able to align with the aid of said third means a sleeper which has been lifted slightly by second means to a position in which the sleeper is roughly adjusted relative to the two rails, and also to realize the advantages and the simplification afforded when each resilient device is inserted through the medium of said first means while using a fourth means which functions, when necessary, to further press and/or at least hold the sleeper in said lifted and adjusted position, while a resil¬ ient device is pushed into a fastening device by the first means, in a known manner. Another technical problem is one of realizing the significance of providing two sets of said third means, which act in a direction towards and away from each other and which are positioned on a respective side of respective rails. Another technical problem resides in realizing the signifi- cance of using four sets of third means, of which two sets are positioned on a respective side of a first rail and two sets are positioned on a respective side of a second rail. It will also be seen that a technical problem resides in realizing the significance of configuring each of the third means such that said means will comprise a support which can be moved towards and away from the bottom flange and which is assigned the function of said fourth means and which includes a horizontally directed inclined surface adapted to enable fine adjustments to be made, and also to realize that the inclined surface on a first support, on one side of a first rail, shall be placed opposite to an inclined surface on a second support positioned on the other side of said rail. It will also be seen that a technical problem is one of realizing the significance of using four such sets of said combined third and fourth means, of which two sets are positioned on a respective side of a first rail and two sets are positioned on a respective side of a second rail. It will also be seen that a technical problem resides in realizing the significance of adapting the inclined surface horizontally so that said surface, when necessary, can slidingly coact with one edge-part of a sleeper-related fastening device for the purpose of finely-adjusting the position of the sleeper in relation to the rails before the resilient device or the resilient devices is/are brought into coaction with each of the four fastening devices. A technical problem also resides in realizing the significance of using four simultaneously activated third means for each sleeper and to permit four resilient devices of said first means to be insertable simultaneously in their respective fastening devices. As will be seen from the aforegoing, a technical problem is one of realizing the advantages that are obtained when two resilient devices associated with a railroad rail for each sleeper can be inserted in an opposite direction to a centre line of the rail, said direction being parallel with said centre line. It will be seen in particular that a technical problem resides in realizing the simplicity that can be achieved construction- ally when a third means and a fourth means are mutually connected to form an integrated assembly, and to provide conditions which will enable the outer part of the fourth means to be initially inserted slightly into the fastening devices of respective sleepers. It will also be seen that a technical problem resides in realizing the significance of providing such conditions that as the third means is moved to finely adjust the position of the sleeper in relation to the rail, the adjacent fourth means will be capable of holding the sleeper in a raised position, even should the second means fail to grip the downwardly diverging side surfaces of the sleeper. In addition to the aforementioned problems, it will be seen that with regard to the construction of the fourth means, a technical problem resides in providing conditions such that, when necessary, said fourth means will be able to exert a tensioning force between sleeper and rail which exceeds the force that should be used through the medium of said second means, and will be able to compress slightly an elastic insert positioned between sleeper and rail, so as to facilitate insertion of respective resilient devices. In addition, it will be seen that a technical problem is one of realizing that the fourth means may conveniently include a wedge-shaped device which can be inserted into a gap or a slot in a fastening device to achieve a desired clamping or tightening effect. Another technical problem is one of realizing the significance of forming and dimensioning the wedge-shaped device and the slot or gap so as to obtain forcing coaction which will press or urge the sleeper and adjacent sections of the rail against one another with an adapted force and at an adapted distance. It will be understood that a further technical problem is one of realizing the simplifications that can be made to the construction of a mobile unit when the unit includes a wedge- shaped device on one side of a first rail and a further wedge- shaped device is placed on the other side of a second rail and the wedge-shaped devices are able to move towards and away from one another for common and similar coaction with their respective fastening devices, so that occurrent forces can be taken up by the sleeper. Also proposed is the use of a magazine from which resilient devices can be fed singly to a position in which said devices can be inserted into the holes of respective fastening devices. It will also be seen that a technical problem is one of providing a magazine from which elastic spacer means can be fed singly, these spacer means being intended as an insert between the second outer leg of the resilient device and the bottom rail-flange. Finally, it will be seen that a technical problem resides in the significance of, and the necessity of, allowing the second means to have downwardly divergent surface part that are provided with an elastic covering for gripping engagement with corresponding downwardly diverging side-parts of respective sleepers, and aligning said sleepers to a position at right angles to or generally at right angles to the rails, at least within chosen tolerances. SOLUTION With the intention of solving one or more of the aforesaid technical problems, the present invention takes as its starting point a mobile unit of the kind defined in the introduction, wherein the unit coacts with and carries first means for fastening each of the sleepers to the bottom flanges of respective rails; second means for firmly gripping a sleeper located beneath the unit and loosely positioned beneath the rails, and lifting the sleeper into abutment, or at least into near abutment, with the bottom flanges of two mutually parallel rails; and third means for aligning the raised sleeper to a position adapted in relation to the two rails, and preferably also for finely adjusting the position of the sleeper. The present invention is characterized by the use of fourth means for holding and/or pressing and/or maintaining the sleeper in said adapted position while resilient device is inserted into the sleeper-mounted fastening device by said first means. According to preferred embodiments that lie within the scope of the inventive concept, two of said third means are active on each side of a respective rail. According to another embodiment, said third means has the form of a support which can be moved towards and away from a respective bottom flange and which includes a horizontally extending surface which is inclined to the direction of movement of said support and which functions to finely adjust the position of a sleeper relative to the rails. The inclined surface of a first support and positioned on one side of a rail will be opposite the inclined surface of a second support positioned on the other side of the rail. The inclined surface is appropriately adapted and dimensioned for coaction with an edge-part of the fastening device. According to the invention, four fourth means can be activated simultaneously for each sleeper, and four resilient devices can be inserted simultaneously by the first means. According to another embodiment of the invention, the fourth means includes a wedge-shaped device which is intended for insertion into a gap or slot in the fastening device. The wedge-shaped device and the slot are mutually configured so that when said device and said slot coact, the sleeper and the adjacent rail section will be pressed against each other so as to relieve the load on the second means. One wedge-shaped device on one side of a first rail and one wedge-shaped device on the other side of a second rail are arranged to move towards and away from each other simulta¬ neously. According to one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a magazine from which resilient devices can be fed singly to a position in which the devices can be inserted into the hole of respective fastening devices, and a magazine from which elastic spacer devices can be fed singly, these devices functioning as inserts between the second outer leg of the resilient device and the bottom flange of the rail. The aforesaid second means preferably has divergent outer surfaces which are provided with an elastic covering so as to be able to grip corresponding downwardly divergent side-parts on respective sleepers and bring the sleeper to a position of alignment perpendicular to the rails, at least within chosen tolerances. ADVANTAGES Those advantages primarily afforded by an inventive mobile unit reside in the provision of conditions which enable a lightweight mobile unit to fasten or secure railroad rails to underlying sleepers with the aid of first means and also with the aid of two mutually opposing U-shaped resilient devices, wherein in addition to the second means which function to firmly grip and lift a sleeper into abutment with the bottom rail-flanges, the unit also includes third means which function to finely adjust the raised sleeper to an adapted position, and also includes fourth means which not only functions to press the rail and the sleeper together with a force that exceeds the force exerted by the second means but also functions to maintain the sleeper in said adapted position relative to the rail so that a resilient device can be readily inserted into a fastening device in said sleeper position, by means of the first means. The use of fourth means has been found to facilitate and simplify the insertion of the resilient devices into respec¬ tive fastening devices in an effective and efficient manner, with not inconsiderable time saving in relation to earlier known techniques. The primary characteristic features of an inventive mobile unit are set forth in the characterizing clause of the following Claim 1. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS An exemplifying embodiment of an inventive mobile unit incorporating features characteristic of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accom¬ panying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an inventive mobile unit; Figure 2 illustrates in perspective a plurality of railroad sleepers placed loosely beneath two mutually paral- lei rails, with which the present invention shall be utilized to first align and then secure the sleepers to the rails; Figure 3 is a horizontal view illustrating the fine adjust¬ ment of a sleeper in relation to a rail; Figure 4 is a side view of the arrangement shown in Figure 3 ; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of a sequence where the sleeper has been moved to an adapted position relative to the rail and a resilient device has just been inserted into the fastening device. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS AT PRESENT PREFERRED Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mobile unit 1 which can be moved along two mutually parallel, or at least generally parallel railroad rails 2, 2'. The rails at least rest partially loosely on a plurality of mutually spaced sleepers which extend transversely to the rails 2, 2" and whose lengths slightly exceed the distance at which the rails are spaced apart, two such sleepers 3, 3' being shown in Figure 2. The sleepers are mutually identical and consist of a cast concrete body 3a having downwardly divergent side surfaces 3b, 3c and an upper surface 3d, into which four, preferably identical fastening devices 4, 4a, 4b and 4c have been cast or likewise embodied. The distance between two adjacent devices 4, 4a is adapted to accommodate and coact with a first rail 2, while the distance between two other fastening devices 4b and 4c is correspond¬ ingly adapted to coact with a second rail 2'. The distance between the fastening devices 4a and 4b is in relationship with the desired track gauge of the railroad, i.e. the distance between the centre lines of respective rails 2 and 2 . The sleepers 3 and 3' rest on a prepared supporting surface 5. The mobile unit 1 includes four wheels la, lb, lc and Id, of which the two front wheels lb and lc run along loosely placed rails, whereas the two rear wheels la, Id run along rails that have been fastened previously to underlying sleepers. Although the mobile unit 1 includes a plurality of different functions and facilities, the following description is restricted solely to those functions and facilities that are directly necessary to carry out the invention. Thus, the mobile unit 1 includes four first means 10 which function to fasten each of the sleepers to the bottom flanges of the rails, although only one such means is shown. The four first means 10 are "identical" to one another (or in mirror image) and are each positioned on a respective side of the rails 2, 2 ' . Each of the first means 10 is comprised of a support surface which can be moved reciprocatingly along the rails 2, 2 ' by means of a hydraulic arrangement 11 and is positioned on one side of the rail so as to enable a resilient device 8 posi- tioned in a channel or an attachment to be pressed into a hole 9 in a fastening device 4 on the sleeper concerned. Fastening of the sleeper to the rail is effected with the aid of two mutually opposed U-shaped resilient devices, of which a first leg 8a, 8b of each device are joined end-to-end, and wherein a first outer leg 8c is adapted for coaction with a hole 9 provided in a fastening device 4 mounted on the sleeper 3, and wherein the other outer leg 8d is intended to bear against the flange 2a of the rail 2, or preferably against an elastic insert 7, with a clamping or tightening force and therewith press the flange against the sleeper 3. The unit also includes second means 20 for firmly gripping a sleeper 3 loosely positioned beneath the unit 1 and beneath the rails 2, 2 ' , and lifting the sleeper so that its upper surface 3d will be brought into abutment with, or into near abutment with the undersurface 2a' of the bottom flanges (2a) of the two rails. The second means 20 is brought to a gripping mode hydraulical- ly, in which said means lifts the sleeper 3 up against the rails 2, 2' with a predetermined force, which can be deter¬ mined by hydraulic pressure sensing means (not shown) . No great lifting force is required in order for the invention to function satisfactorily, since it suffices to lift the sleeper 3 into solely rough abutment with the rails 2, 2 ' . The unit further includes four third means 30 which function to align and finely adjust the position of the sleeper 3 lifted by the second means 20, so that the sleeper will be positioned precisely in relation to the two rails 2, 2 . The four third means 30 are mutually identical and each is positioned on a respective side of the rails 2, 2 ' . Each of the third means is comprised of a movable plate which extends transversely to the longitudinal extension of the rails 2, 2 ' and can be moved reciprocatingly by a hydraulic arrangement 31. Each of the third means, or each plate, is positioned on one side of a respective rail to enable a sleeper 3 to be moved axially or twisted to said precise position with the aid of said plate, when the need arises. In accordance with the present invention, the mobile unit includes two or four fourth means 40. The fourth means are arranged externally of the rails 2, 2 ' (or on each side of the rails) and cooperate in the movement of the third means. In the illustrated embodiment, the third and the fourth means are mutually combined to form a single assembly, wherein the functions of said means are fully or partially coordinated. Each of the fourth means is intended to hold and/or press and/or maintain the sleeper 3 in said adapted precise position while a respective resilient device 8 is inserted into a respective fastening device 4, when necessary. The fourth means 40 is intended to supplement the second means 20, so as to enable the sleeper to be maintained in a precise position of alignment, in which, when necessary, the sleeper can be pressed further against the rails 2, 2 ' to a position which will facilitate alignment and insertion of a resilient device (or four resilient devices simultaneously) into a respective fastening device. It should be noted in particular that two of the third means 30 shall be operative on each side of a respective rail 2, although for the sake of clarity the third means that can be applied to the inner surface of the rail has not been shown in Figure 5. The third means 30 is comprised of a support or plate 31 which can be moved towards and away from respective bottom flanges 2a, said support or plate including a horizontal, inclined surface 31a which function to finely align the sleeper as required. Figure 3 is intended to show that as the plate 30 is moved in the direction of the arrow P, the inclined surface 31a will engage an edge 4e on the fastening device 4 and therewith urge the fastening device 4 and the sleeper 3 downwards in Figure 3, so that the edge 4e will take a position within the region 31a' and where desired fine adjustment is fulfilled and the sleeper is in a precise or exact position. The inclined surface 31 of a first plate or a first support 30 on one side of a rail 2 is opposed by a corresponding inclined surface on a second support on the other side of said rail. The mobile unit illustrated in Figure 1 includes two (or four) fourth means, one positioned on the outside of each of the two rails 2, 2 ' and two which can be activated simultaneously for each sleeper, so as to enable four resilient devices 8 to be inserted simultaneously through the medium of said four first means. Two resilient devices 8 belonging to a rail 2 can be inserted in a direction opposite to a centre line parallel with the rail. The fourth means 40 includes a wedge-shaped device 41, according to Figures 3 and 4, which is intended for insertion into a slot or channel 4f provided in the fastening device 4. The wedge-shaped device 41 and the slot or channel 4f are mutually so configured that when in mutual coaction the surface 42 is caused to coact with the edge 43 so that the sleeper 3 and the rail 2 will be pressed together as the wedge 41 is pushed or moved into the fastening device 4 through said coaction, as illustrated in Figure 4. It is also proposed that a wedge-shaped device 41 located on one side of a first rail 2 and a corresponding wedge-shaped device (not shown) located on the other side of another rail 2 ' are able to move towards and away from each other simulta¬ neously, so that occurrent forces will be taken up by the sleeper 3. The inventive concept also embraces the use of a magazine 50 from which resilient devices 8 can be fed singly to a position in which they can be inserted into a respective hole of a respective fastening device 4. The inventive concept also embraces the use of a magazine (not shown) from which elastic devices 7 can be fed singly to form an insert between the second outer leg 8d of the resilient device 8 and the bottom flange 2a of the rail 2, as Figure 5 is intended to illustrate. The elastic device 7 is configured to coact with the fastening device 4 so that it is unable to slide transversely of the sleeper 3. The second means 20 includes divergent surface parts 21, 22 which are provided with elastic coverings 23, 24 for gripping engagement with correspondingly downward divergent side-parts 3b, 3c of the sleeper 3, and in a raised position are able to align the sleeper 3 in a position which is perpendicular to the rails 2, at least within chosen tolerances. Although the illustrated exemplifying embodiment includes third means 30 and fourth means 40, it will be understood that these means can be combined by giving the edges 43 and 44 a convergent shape with an inclined surface 41a corresponding to the surface 31a, this arrangement also providing desired alignment of the sleeper 3. Elastic devices 3e, 3e' are fastened to the upper surface 3d of the sleeper 3 for the purpose of supporting the rails 2, 2 ' . It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the aforedescribed and illustrated exemplifying embodiment thereof and that modifications can be made within the scope of the inventive concept as defined in the following Claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A mobile unit adapted for movement along two mutually parallel, or at least generally parallel railroad rails (2, 2 ' ) , which at least partially rest loosely on a plurality of mutually spaced sleepers (3) which extend transversely to the rails and whose lengths exceed the distance between the rails, wherein the unit includes first means for securing each of said sleepers to bottom rail-flanges with the aid of two opposing U-shaped resilient devices which have two mutually joining legs and which include a first outer leg which is intended for coaction with a slot or hole (9) provided in a sleeper-mounted fastening device (4), and a second outer leg which is adapted to bear forcibly on the bottom rail-flange (2a) and to press said flange against the sleeper, wherein the unit further includes second means (20) with which a sleeper positioned loosely beneath the railroad rails (2, 2 ' ) is firmly gripped and lifted into abutment or into near abutment with the bottom rail-flanges, and wherein the unit (1) includes third means (30) which function to bring the thus raised sleeper into a position of alignment with the two rails, characterized in that the unit includes fourth means (40) for pressing and/or holding the sleeper in said position of alignment, when necessary, while respective resilient devices (8) are inserted into respective fastening devices (4) by the first means (10). 2. A unit according to Claim 1, characterized in that each of said fourth means is active on a respective side of a rail. 3. A unit according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said third means has the form of a support which can be moved towards and away from respective bottom flanges and which is provided with an inclined surface (31a, 41a) operative to effect desired fine adjustment to said alignment. 4. A unit according to Claim 3, characterized in that said third means is provided with an inclined surface for a first support (30) on one side of a rail; and in that this inclined surface is opposed by an inclined surface on a second support on the other side of said rail. 5. A unit according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said inclined surface (31a) is intended to coact with an edge- part (4a, 4f) of a fastening device (4). 6. A unit according to Claim 1, characterized in that four third means can be activated simultaneously for each sleeper; and in that four resilient devices (8) can be inserted into their respective holes simultaneously. 7. A unit according to Claim 6, characterized in that two resilient devices can be inserted by respective first means in an opposite direction orientated parallel to a centre line on the rail. 8. A unit according to Claim 1, characterized in that the fourth means (40) includes a wedge-shaped device (41) which can be inserted into a slot (4f) in a fastening device (4). 9. A unit according to Claim 8, characterized in that the wedge-shaped device and the slot are mutually so configured that when they coact, the sleeper and an adjacent section of the rail are held and/or pressed together. 10. A unit according to Claim 9, characterized in that one wedge-shaped device (41) is located on one side of a first rail and that another wedge-shaped device is located on the other side of a second rail and in that the wedge-shaped devices can be moved towards and away from one another. 11. A unit according to Claim 1, characterized by a magazine (12) from which resilient devices can be fed singly to a position in which said devices can be inserted into a hole (9) in a fastening device. 12. A unit according to Claim 1, characterized by a magazine from which elastic devices (7) can be fed singly and form an insert between the second outer leg of the resilient device and the bottom flange of the rail. 13. A unit according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second means has divergent outer surfaces provided with elastic coverings for engagement with correspondingly diver¬ gent side-parts of respective sleepers, therewith to roughly align said sleeper in a position perpendicular to the rails, at least within chosen tolerances.

Inventors: LUNDIN CHRISTER, ROSENQVIST CARL ANDERS, LUNDIN, CHRISTER, ROSENQVIST, CARL, ANDERS
Applicants: LUNDIN CHRISTER, ROSENQVIST CARL ANDERS, LUNDIN, CHRISTER, ROSENQVIST, CARL, ANDERS
Application year: 1994
Main classification: E01B29
IPC codes: E01B29